Lomatia myricoides (Gaertn.) Domin

An evergreen shrub 4 to 8 ft high in cultivation but taller and occasionally tree-like in the wild. Young stems angled, slightly downy. Leaves glabrous, narrowly lanceolate or oblong-lanceolate, 3 to 6 in. long, 1⁄4 to 1⁄2 in. wide, distantly and coarsely toothed in the upper part or sometimes entire, acute or obtuse at the apex, tapered at the base, sessile or shortly stalked. Inflorescences racemose, terminal or from the upper leaf-axils, as long as the leaves or slightly longer. Flowers creamy white or pale yellow, borne June-July, about 1⁄2 in. wide, on stalks 1⁄4 to 3⁄8 in. long. Bot. Mag., t. 7698.

Native of S.E. Australia; introduced 1816. It is hardy south of London in a sunny place protected from cold winds. Award of Merit 1955.